It was a whirlwind tour of three good winter birding destinations. I also noticed a different hosting philosophy between state-run and fed-run facilities. While the state-run site (Gray Lodge) had a fully prepared bed-and-breakfast for the tired and hungry avian guests, the feds seemed content to wait until after the guests arrived to set the table. The results were dramatically different. Where Sacramento and Colusa (federal) were virtually barren and absent of waterfowl over most of their acreages, Gray Lodge was flush.

Once the flooding at the NWR’s begins, I expect thing will pick up at those sites. [If you flood it, will they come?]

Seems I’m always playing catch up. Here it is two days later and I have a ton to process about my stay on the coast near San Simeon <sigh>.